About Blessed Sacrament · Jonesboro, Arkansas
Blessed Sacrament is a Roman Catholic parish in Jonesboro, Arkansas, in the Diocese of Little Rock. The parish worships in a modern church on East Highland Drive dedicated in 2019 by Bishop Anthony Taylor, and serves a multilingual community with Masses in English, Spanish, and (once a month) Filipino. It runs the parish's own PreK-3 through 6th-grade Catholic school and a robust faith formation program for children, youth, and adults.
- Established
- 1885 (parish), renamed Blessed Sacrament 1933
- Patron
- Blessed Sacrament
- Rector
- Msgr. R. Scott Friend
- Diocese
- Diocese of Little Rock (North Delta Deanery)
Why belong here
Blessed Sacrament is the largest Catholic parish in northeast Arkansas, with Mass offered daily in English and Spanish (and one Filipino Mass a month), year-round Eucharistic Adoration Monday–Friday, and a dedicated Catholic school (PreK3–6) on the same campus. Visitors and new parishioners find a full sacramental life — Reconciliation, OCIA, First Communion, Confirmation, Matrimony, Baptism — and active ministries in Hispanic outreach, youth faith formation, and a Columbarium Garden for the committal of cremated remains, all under the pastoral care of Monsignor Scott Friend and a team of associate priests and deacons.
Mass times at Blessed Sacrament
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 8:30 AM
- Saturday 3:00 PM
- Friday 5:30 PM
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Monday 8:45 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
- Tuesday 7:30 a.m. – 5:15 p.m.
- Wednesday 7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- Thursday 7:30 a.m. – 5:15 p.m.
- Friday 8:45 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
- Friday evening 6:00 PM (per third-party listings)
Parish Identity & Patron
Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church is the principal Catholic parish serving Jonesboro, Arkansas, and surrounding Craighead County. It is part of the Diocese of Little Rock's North Delta Deanery. The parish's patron is the Blessed Sacrament — the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist — whose great liturgical feast is the Solemnity of Corpus Christi. The name was given to the parish by Bishop John B. Morris at its 1933 dedication because, at the time, no other church in Arkansas bore the title Blessed Sacrament.
A Parish Steeped in History
Catholic life in Jonesboro began in 1883 with Irish railroad workers and Father Eugene Weibel celebrating Mass in a private home. The parish was formally established in 1885 as St. Roman, rebuilt after the 1896 lightning fire, and renamed Blessed Sacrament when Bishop Morris dedicated the current South Church Street church on October 17, 1933. Read more about the parish's story below.
- Founding (1883–1885)
- The Fire of 1896
- Building the 1933 Church
- Moving to East Highland Drive
Founding (1883–1885)
Irish railroad workers asked Father Eugene Weibel of Pocahontas to come to Jonesboro for Mass. The first Mass was celebrated in 1883 at the home of Frank Roach, the railroad roadmaster, with 18 people present. Weibel traveled twice a month using a free rail pass from the railroad. The parish was officially established in 1885; the first church was dedicated on May 31, 1885, and named St. Roman — reportedly for Father Weibel's late brother, and after the Benedictine monk St. Roman who befriended St. Benedict.
- First Mass: 1883, Frank Roach home, 18 attendees
- First church dedicated May 31, 1885, as St. Roman
The Fire of 1896
On May 15, 1896, lightning struck the bell tower of the original St. Roman complex and the church, school, sisters' house, and rectory all burned. Parishioners regrouped by building a combination hall dedicated April 25, 1897, for both church and school use. From 1907 to 1933, the parish rented the chapel of Holy Angels Convent at $35 a month for Mass and other activities.
- May 15, 1896 — lightning destroys the church complex
- 1897 — combination hall built
- 1907–1933 — renting the Holy Angels Convent chapel
Building the 1933 Church
In 1925 Father William Joseph Kordsmeier was appointed pastor and raised nearly $30,000 from parishioners for a new building. The final chosen estimate was $51,023. Construction began in 1932 in the middle of the Great Depression and the church was completed largely by hand. It was dedicated on October 17, 1933, and at Bishop John B. Morris's request renamed Blessed Sacrament.
- Dedicated October 17, 1933, by Bishop John B. Morris
- Located at 614 South Church Street
- Capacity: 360 seats
Moving to East Highland Drive
After decades of growth, the 1933 building (seating only 360) became inadequate. The parish began the moving process in 2017 and, after the sale of the South Church Street property, Bishop Anthony Taylor dedicated the new church on January 13, 2019, in a bilingual (English/Spanish) Mass.
- Move began 2017
- New church dedicated January 13, 2019, by Bishop Anthony Taylor
- Now at 1101 E. Highland Drive
Clergy & Parish Staff
The parish is pastored by Monsignor R. Scott Friend and supported by three associate priests (Fr. Cody Eveld, Fr. Tuan Do, and Fr. Kiran Kishore), two deacons (Deacon Ramón Ramirez — also Pastoral Associate for Hispanic Ministry — and Deacon Martin J. Huss, PhD), and a lay staff that includes the directors of faith formation, music, youth ministry, facilities, and parish administration.
- Pastor: Msgr. R. Scott Friend
- Associate Pastor: Fr. Cody Eveld
- Associate Pastor: Fr. Tuan Do
- Associate Pastor: Fr. Kiran Kishore
- Deacon Ramón Ramirez (Pastoral Associate for Hispanic Ministry)
- Deacon Martin J. Huss, PhD
- Director of Faith Formation: Carol Windle
- Director of Children & Youth Ministries: Jim McDonald
- Associate Director of Children & Youth Ministries: Ann Vazquez
- Facilities Manager: John Drum
- Bookkeeper: Molli Beaverstock
- Administrative Assistant: Emi Rodriguez
- OCIA Coordinators: Robert Jones & Jeff Puryear
- Adoration contact: Inez Ray, (870) 273-6535
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at Blessed Sacrament runs from preschool through high school. Children and youth classes meet on Wednesday evenings from 6:00 to 7:30 PM (no Sunday Faith Formation), with PreK through 6th grade, 7th & 8th grade, and a Year 2 Confirmation program. A separate 9th–12th grade Youth Ministry is offered for high schoolers. Adult formation includes an OCIA process (formerly RCIA) for those preparing to enter the Church.
- PreK–6th Faith Formation (Wednesday evenings)
- 7th & 8th-grade Faith Formation
- 9th–12th-grade Youth Ministry
- Year 2 Confirmation
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Contact: [email protected] or [email protected]
Blessed Sacrament Catholic School
The parish operates its own Catholic elementary school serving PreK3 through 6th Grade. Its mission is to provide an environment of academic excellence and character formation rooted in the Gospels and to celebrate each student's talents in the service of Christ. School Masses are part of the parish Mass schedule (9:00 AM Thursday, 8:30 AM Friday).
- Grades: PreK3 – 6th
- Mission: academic excellence and character formation rooted in the Gospels
- Website referenced: catholicjonesboroschool.com
- School Masses Thursday 9:00 AM and Friday 8:30 AM
Hispanic Ministry
Hispanic Ministry at Blessed Sacrament includes Masses in Spanish every Sunday (12:00 PM and 6:30 PM) and a weekly gathering of the Hispanic community. Its leaders also prepare families for the sacraments of Baptism, First Communion, and Quinceañera, and work to integrate Hispanic parishioners into the wider life of the parish.
- Spanish Sunday Masses — 12:00 PM and 6:30 PM
- Spanish Friday Mass — 6:30 PM
- Weekly Hispanic community gathering — Wednesdays at 6:00 PM, Knights of Columbus Hall
- Baptism Prep: Gaby Mata & Claudia Fuentes — 870-919-1240
- Pastoral Associate: Deacon Ramón Ramirez
Parish Men's Group
Blessed Sacrament hosts a men's faith-formation group open to all men of the parish — an hour of food, fellowship, and growth in the Catholic faith. The group aims to help men be 'more informed, active, vital lay leaders' in parish life.
- Open to all men of the parish
- Food, fellowship, and formation
- Contact via the parish office
Knights of Columbus
The parish is home to a Knights of Columbus council, whose council hall is used for parish gatherings (including the Wednesday Hispanic community meeting).
- Knights of Columbus council housed at the parish
- Hall used for Wednesday Hispanic gatherings
Sacraments at the Parish
The parish celebrates all seven sacraments. Reconciliation is offered three times a week; baptism (including Spanish-language preparation) is coordinated through the Hispanic Ministry team; First Communion and Confirmation are prepared through Faith Formation; and a Wedding Coordinator is on staff to help engaged couples prepare for matrimony. OCIA (formerly RCIA) welcomes adults seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church, with full initiation normally celebrated at the Easter Vigil.
- Baptism — English and Spanish preparation
- First Communion & First Reconciliation
- Confirmation (Year 2 of Faith Formation)
- Matrimony (Wedding Coordinator on staff)
- Anointing of the Sick / Last Rites (office)
- OCIA (formerly RCIA) — Robert Jones & Jeff Puryear
- Reconciliation — Sat. 8:30 AM, Sat. 3:00 PM, Fri. 5:30 PM, by appointment
Liturgical Ministries & Music
Lay faithful serve as altar servers, Extraordinary (Eucharistic) Ministers of Holy Communion, lectors, and musicians for every liturgy. Music is led by Music Director Carol Windle. Ministry schedules (Eucharistic Ministers, altar servers, lectors, etc.) are posted online for parishioners to consult.
- Altar Servers
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Lectors
- Music Director: Carol Windle
- Published Ministry Schedules on catholicjonesboro.com/ministry-schedules
Columbarium Garden
On the east side of the new church, the parish has built a consecrated Columbarium Garden — an arrangement of niches for the inurnment of cremated remains of deceased loved ones. Each niche (single or double; sealed with an engraved plaque) is consecrated by the parish, and a Committal Service is conducted by the pastor or another priest authorized by him. The garden is outdoors and available for visitation at any time.
- Single niches 12"×12"×12"; double niches 12"×12"×24"
- Sealed niches with engraved plaque (11×7 inches)
- No annual or ongoing fees
- Contact: John Drum, [email protected]
Visit & Contact Information
Blessed Sacrament's church address is 1101 E. Highland Drive, Jonesboro, AR 72401; the parish office is at 1107 E. Highland Drive (Mailing: P.O. Box 1735, Jonesboro, AR 72403-1735). Office hours are Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mass times, confession times, and adoration are listed above; the parish's website (catholicjonesboro.com) carries the most current schedule and bulletins.
- Church: 1101 E. Highland Drive, Jonesboro, AR 72401
- Parish office: 1107 E. Highland Drive, Jonesboro, AR 72401
- Mailing: P.O. Box 1735, Jonesboro, AR 72403-1735
- Phone: (870) 932-2529
- Office hours: Mon.–Fri. 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
- Website: catholicjonesboro.com
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Eugene Weibel1883–~1900
Came from Pocahontas by free rail pass; founded the parish (originally St. Roman) in 1885 and chose the name for his late brother.
- Fr. William Joseph Kordsmeier1925–1933
Led the $30,000 (final cost $51,023) fundraising drive and oversaw construction during the Great Depression of the 1933 church on South Church Street; it was renamed Blessed Sacrament at Bishop Morris's request.